Flagstaff



B u T m SF (No Model.) I

Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON S. CABELL, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

FLAGSTAFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 556,614, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed January 4, 1896. Serial No. 574,383. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON S. CABELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flags, of which the following is a specification, ref erence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

It is the object of my invention to providea flag for use in all situations where it is necessary to keep it flying permanently and exposed to the elements, the material used be in g metal or like durable material not affected by changes in the weather.

I aim to provide a metallic flag capable of rotating freely about its staff to suitthe direction of the wind, and capable also of acting as a weather-vane.

My invention also includes a special arrangement and construction of the parts which will permit the flag to be raised and lowered in placing the same at half-mast. I also form the flag of such a wavy shape as will present an artistic appearance and at the same time expose a surface of the best form to be acted upon by the wind.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the flag with the bearing therefor on the shaft, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

The body of the flag l is made of metal or like durable material, and, as shown, it is of wavy form to simulate the appearance of the ordinary textile flag.

The flag-body is attached to a sleeve 2, and this has at its upper and lower ends collars 3 3, extending around the interior of the sleeve, and opposite these collars and about the flagstaff there are other collars, 4 at, and between these sets of collars we arrange balls 5, the collars being grooved to receive them. The sleeve is thus adapted to rotate freely about the staff and will set itself in the direction of the wind, thus acting as a weathervane in addition to its primary object of performing all the functions of the national flag. The sleeve has at its upper and lower ends hoods 6, which serve to shed the water, and the fiagstaff may end inany suitable ornamental top piece.

In order that the flag may be raised and lowered, the innercollars, 4 at, are loose on the staff and are adapted to slide freely thereon.

In order to raise and lower the flag, a rod 7 is used extending vertically along the staff, and its lower end is telescoped into a second rod, 8. The upperend of the rod 7 is attached to the lower inner collar, at, and by moving this rod vertically the lower inner collar is shifted along the staff, and the rotary flagsleeve being connected therewith through the ball-bearings is shifted also. This rod 7 thus serves to adjust and maintain the sleeve with the flag in any desired position along the staff, and in all positions the sleeve has the same freedom for rotary movement.

The wavy form of the flag-body presents proper surfaces to the Wind, so that the pressure thereof will be applied to swing the flag about the staff.

The inner collar is splin ed to the flagstaff at at to prevent rotation of the same on the staff, and at the same time to allow the flag to be raised and lowered, and the supporting and operating rod '7 being held and guided by eyes 11 to keep it in the same position relatively to the staff is also kept in proper position relative to the inner collar, and the spline connection, together with the guides for the rod 7, insures that the inner collar and rod constituting the raising and lowering device will be maintained in proper position.

I claim- 1. A flag consisting of the metallic or like body, a staff, a sleeve about the staff, the collars 3, 3, on the interior of the sleeve, the collars 4, 4 arranged to slide vertically on the staff, the ball-bearings between the-collars, and means for raising and lowering the flag, said means being connected to the lowermost inner collar, substantially as described.

2. I11 combination, the flag with its sleeve, a staff, the ball-bearings with the collars sliding freely on the staff, and means for raising and lowering the flag, consisting of the telescoping rods, said rods being connected with the lower inner collar substantially as described.

3. A flag having a sleeve, a staff with ballbearings between the same and the sleeve, said ball-bearings including the inner sliding collars, means connected to the lower inner collar for raising and lowering it, and means the inner collar and the guides for said rod,

to prevent the rotation of said collar in relasubstantially as described. IO tion to the flagstaff. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 4. A flag having a rotary sleeve with ballin presence of two witnesses. 5 bearings between it and the stafi said bear- MILTON S. CA'BELL.

ings including the inner sliding collars, the Vitnesses: spline connection between the lower inner HENRY E. COOPER,

collar and the staff, the rod 7 connected to \VALTER DONALDSON. 

